Deed Recording Requirements in Texas
Texas will record a deed only if it is acknowledged or sworn before a notary or other officer (or signed before two credible subscribing witnesses), and Texas has no real estate transfer tax.
Last checked . General information, not legal advice.
Texas at a glance
- Notary acknowledgment
- Required to record
- Witnesses
- None
- Transfer tax
- No state tax
The rules in Texas
Does a deed need to be notarized in Texas?
Texas requires a deed to be acknowledged (or, where the statute allows, proved) before it can be recorded.
How many witnesses does a deed need in Texas?
None. Texas does not require witnesses to sign a deed.
Is there a real estate transfer tax in Texas?
We found no state real estate transfer tax in Texas.
Where do the Texas rules for deeds come from?
They come from Tex. Prop. Code 12.001. We last checked them in October 2026. Laws change, so check the current statute before you rely on it.
How Texas compares
Texas is one of 13 jurisdictions that have no state transfer tax that we found.
What this means in practice
Record the signed deed with the county recorder, register of deeds or land records office where the property is located. Recording puts the world on notice of the transfer and generally protects the new owner against later claims.
Recording offices often have formatting rules (margins, paper size, a return address, a parcel number) and charge a fee. Check the county's requirements before you sign.
A deed does not pay off a mortgage. If the property is mortgaged, the loan usually stays in place after the transfer.
General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.